Gaines Named SEC Women’s Swimmer of the Week, Smith & Casas Share Men’s Honors

Courtesy: SEC Sports

Men’s Co-Swimmers of the Week: Kieran Smith, Florida and Shaine Casas, Texas A&M
Florida’s Kieran Smith, a junior from Ridgefield, Conn., won three individual events with NCAA B-cut times at no. 23 Auburn. Smith took first in the 200 IM with a time of 1:43.76, the 11th fastest time in the nation. He also placed first in the 100 free with a time of 42.75, the 14th fastest time in the nation. Smith won the 100 back (47.22) and was a part of the 200 medley relay squad that finished second (1:27.76/19.41).

Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas, a junior from McAllen, Texas, won two individual events with a pair of NCAA B-cut times and was a part of two winning relays against LSU. Casas touched the wall first in the 100 fly with a time of 44.98, the third fastest time in the nation. He also came in first in the 100 back (47.11) and swam legs on the winning 200 free relay (1:19.55/19.69) and 200 medley relay (1:27.94/21.87).

Men’s Diver of the Week: Juan Celaya-Hernandez, LSU
LSU’s Juan Celaya-Hernandez, a senior from San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico, won both springboard events against No. 4 Texas A&M. Celaya-Hernandez posted top scores in both the 1-meter (405.22) and 3-meter (441.00) events.

Men’s Freshman of the Week: Jake Magahey, Georgia
Georgia’s Jake Magahey, a freshman from Dacula, Ga., closed out the regular season with two individual wins and a relay victory at Tennessee. In the 200 freestyle, Magahey took first with a B-cut time of 1:35.65. He followed that race with a victory in the 500 freestyle, posting a B-cut time of 4:20.58. In the 400 freestyle relay, Megahey helped the Bulldogs clinch the overall meet victory with his third leg split of 43.36. Magahey’s leg was the fastest 100 freestyle of all swimmers in the race and overtook Tennessee’s A team for the lead and eventual win. With the result, Georgia clinched its first undefeated men’s dual season since 1997-98.

Women’s Swimmer of the Week: Riley Gaines, Kentucky
Kentucky’s Riley Gaines, a junior from Nashville, Tenn., won three individual events with NCAA B-cut times and was a part of a winning relay in UK’s win over No. 19 Louisville. Gaines placed first in the 100 free with a time of 48.42, tying for ninth place nationally. She also took first in the 200 free with a time of 1:44.06, the fifth fastest time in the nation. Gaines touched the wall first in the 50 free (22.52), and swam the anchor leg of the winning 200 medley relay (1:36.75).

Women’s Diver of the Week: Aimee Wilson, Texas A&M
Texas A&M’s Aimee Wilson, a junior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, registered three wins on springboard events against LSU and SMU this past week. Against LSU, Wilson won the 3-meter with a final score of 373.43 and was runner-up on the 1-meter with a score of 308.18. Against SMU, she swept both events with a score of 339.60 on the 1-meter and 353.40 on the 3-meter.

Women’s Freshman of the Week: Cecilia Porter, Florida
Florida’s Cecilia Porter, a freshman from Signal Mountain, Tenn., won the 100 breaststroke at No. 23 Auburn with an NCAA B-cut time of 1:00.19, the 20th fastest time in the nation. Porter also swam the second leg of the winning 200 medley relay (1:38.80/27.32) against the Tigers and took third place in the 200 breaststroke with an NCAA B-cut time of 2:13.51. Against North Florida, she swam the second leg of the winning 200 medley relay (1:38.30/27.12) and was runner-up in the 100 breaststroke (1:00.73).